If someone said they’d pay you $ 1,800 to stay off social media for six years, would you do it? Could you?
Sivert Klefsaas did just that. “I thought it was awesome,” Sivert told CNN Tuesday, “I thought, ‘Ah what’s 6 more years?’”
In 2016, Lorna Goldstrand Klefsaas challenged her 12-year-old son Sivert to stay off social media until he was 18. If he completed the challenge, she’d award him the cash on his eighteenth birthday. On February 19, 2022, Sivert claimed his prize.
Lorna was inspired by a challenge she heard on the radio called the “16 for 16”, where a mother gave her daughter $1,600 when she turned 16 if she stayed off social media, she told CNN. She decided to up the ante (期限) to two extra years and $200 more.
Sivert said it wasn’t too difficult to live without social media, and he didn’t think about it much during the six years. As a 12 year old, Sivert said he wasn’t using social media much anyway. The only app he had prior to the bet was Snapchat—which he deleted a day after trying it out. “I wouldn’t say there was ever a time when I thought I was about to break,” he said. “As it went on, it was more of a pride thing.” He also had his friends to keep him up to date on the latest information or trends.” I got to avoid all the unnecessary drama that was on there.” Sivert added.
Lorna said she never had to check for any sneakily downloaded apps. “He’s so competitive, it was definitely more for proving a point.” she said. It also meant he had more time to focus on his grades and sports instead, Sivert told reporter.
Now $1,800 richer, Sivert told CNN he hasn’t thought about what to buy (when he was 12, he joked he’d get a house), but it’ll likely be something for his dorm room at the University of Northwestern St. Paul, which he’ll attend in the fall.
After Sivet’s success, Lorna took to Facebook to share the challenge. She said it was some of the best money she ever spent. Other parents have seemed interested in trying it out too, she told CNN.
“We are certainly not against social media, but it’s the healthy using of it.” Lorna noted. “It’s about not letting yourself get weighed down by it, or addicted to it, or affected by things that people post.” She added she thinks her son now has a “different perspective” on social media than he would have at age 12.
1. What do we know about Lorna?| A．She posted the challenge on CNN. |
| B．She has a different perspective on social media now. |
| C．She offered Sivert the cash on his sixteenth birthday. |
| D．She got inspiration from a similar challenge over the radio. |
| A．His eagerness to prove himself. | B．His mother’ support. |
| C．His friends’ encouragement. | D．His casual attitude. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Objective. | C．Favorable. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Avoid using social media. |
| B．Develop a healthy living habit. |
| C．Try not to be addicted to social media. |
| D．Escape being influenced by people around you. |
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【推荐1】There is a famous story about how Walt Disney was inspired to build Disneyland. The story goes that during an afternoon visit to Griffith Park located near the Burbank Studios, Walt took a seat while his two young daughters rode the merry-go-round (旋转木马). Walt thought there should be a place where both children and their parents could enjoy spending some time together in an environment that would be both entertaining and pleasing to the eye, so with this thought came the idea for Disneyland.
Walt’s original plan was to build an eight-acre park located near the Burbank Studios that would be a place for his employees and their families. Those plans were put on hold because of the start of World War II. By 1952, Walt had created a special department that was devoted to planning his dream.
Finally in 1953, the first steps in building the park happened when Walt employed the Stanford Research Institute to make a survey to determine the best possible location of the future park. Considering population growth and the future freeway construction, they finally found a location in Anaheim and 160 acres of land was bought for the site of the new park.
The building of the park was very expensive and to collect money for the project, Walt developed the idea of the “WaltDisney’s Disneyland” television show. It turned out to be a wonderful idea—not only gaining the money to build the park but also presenting the park to the American public.
Construction officially began on July 21, 1954, and it was an ambitious (有雄心的) building schedule of less than one year to complete the new park for the projected opening day. Walt watched over the park’s construction and progress continued with just a few minor hold-ups. Finally, the park was ready for the opening day on July 17, 1955.
1. What inspired Walt Disney to build Disneyland?| A．The special design of Griffith Park. | B．A trip to a park with his daughters. |
| C．Requests from his family and employees. | D．The idea to build a park for his daughters. |
| A．Population and traffic. | B．The advice of the public. |
| C．The natural environment. | D．Walt Disney’s personal preference. |
| A．It was smooth generally. | B．It was affected by World War II. |
| C．It was completed later than expected. | D．It was influenced by a shortage of money. |
| A．A diary. | B．A novel. | C．A magazine. | D．A guidebook. |
【推荐2】Youngsters glued to online Rames on their smartphones was also a concern for Ngurang Meena, a school teacher in Nirjuli, a small town in Arunachal Pradesh’s Papum Pare district. The 30-year-old social-science teacher, who runs the Ngurang Learning Institute—an adult literacy centre—says that she feels disheartened every time she reads student papers. “The graph of student performance is falling every year. It breaks my heart whenever I see answer sheets—basic grammar skills are missing and there’s an absence of any cohesive expression. They lack guidance and reading culture is almost zero.” Meena says. When her school and the centre she runs had to close due to the Covid lockdown, the social worker in her Institute wanted to do something to address the problem.
Inspired by a similar initiative in Mizoram, Meena set up a bookshelf with around 80 books as well as some benches on the side of the road in Nirjuli on 30 August 2020, where passers-by could spend time reading. The selections include motivational books, biographies and novels as well as comics for young children. “I have to bribe the younger ones with sweets to sit and read, but that is okay.” she laughs.
Meena’s library became a hit amang youngsters who spend hours in the reading corner. Within two months, her effort became the talk of the town. Generous contributions of books come in from the public and she is even receiving requests to set up such libraries in other parts of the state, including one in the capital, Itanagar. Since the tiny library is far from the main town, she also lends books out to those who want to read at home.
“I never thought that this would become such a big inspiration,” Meena says. “Since childhood, we were told that books are our best friends. The next generation of kids is focused on games and other things. I don’t want them to stray.” she adds.
1. What makes Ngurang Meena feel heartbroken according to Paragraph 1?| A．Suudents’ poor grades. | B．The spread of Covid. |
| C．Students’ bad behavior. | D．The lockdown of her school. |
| A．Permit. | B．Encourage. | C．Control. | D．Threat. |
| A．Meena is satisfied with her success. | B．The public has donated a lot of money. |
| C．Meena’s library has a positive influence. | D．Meena has set up libraries all over the state. |
| A．She is a selfless fighter. | B．She is a talented thinker. |
| C．She is an ambitious leader. | D．She is a responsible teacher. |
【推荐3】I have forgotten the name of the old lady, who was a customer on my newspaper route when I was a twelve-year-old boy back in 1954. Yet it seems like just yesterday that she taught me a lesson in forgiveness that I can only hope to pass on to someone else some day.
On a Saturday afternoon, a friend and I were throwing stones onto the roof of the old lady’s house. I found a smooth rock and sent it. The stone headed straight for a small window on the old lady’s back door. At the sound of broken glass, we took off from the old lady’s yard.
I was too scared about getting caught that first night. However, a few days later when I was sure that I hadn’t been discovered, I started to feel guilty for her misfortune.
She still greeted me with a smile each day when I gave her the newspaper, but I was no longer able to act comfortably when seeing her.
I decided to save my paper delivery money, and in three weeks I had the seven dollars that I thought would cover the cost of her window. I put the money in an envelope with a note saying that I was sorry for breaking her window and hoped that the seven dollars would cover the cost of repairing it.
The next day, I handed the old lady her paper. She thanked me for the paper and gave me a bag of biscuits she had made herself. I thanked her and ate the biscuits as I continued my route.
After several biscuits, I felt an envelope and pulled it out of the bag. When I opened the envelope, I was shocked. Inside were the seven dollars and a short note that said, “I’m proud of you.”
1. What work did the author do at the age of 12?| A．Collecting old papers. |
| B．Delivering newspapers. |
| C．Picking rocks. |
| D．Repairing roofs. |
| A．They broke the old lady’s back door. |
| B．They heard the old lady shouting. |
| C．They broke the old lady’s window. |
| D．They were seen by the old lady. |
| A．He saved some money to cover the cost. |
| B．He gave the old lady papers for free. |
| C．He apologized in the old lady’s presence. |
| D．He bought cookies for the old lady. |
| A．strict | B．patient | C．mean | D．generous |
【推荐1】The dog Pooch Chi Chi managed to open the door and let a fire crew in after his owner collapsed on the kitchen floor.
Responders were searching for another entrance when they heard a “click” as the dog managed to unlock the door to let them in. They found the man, named only as Mr Green, collapsed on the floor in the kitchen as the fire took hold on the hob. Firefighters then swiftly put out the fire and carried out first aid until paramedics (急救医士) arrived.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said “a potential disaster” was avoided with help from the dog. They said they were called to the scene after a smoke detector was activated and a Careline alarm was sounded.
Mr Green initially answered the call but operator at Careline lost communication. Within six minutes, the crew was on scene and investigating. They could hear the alarm but were unable to establish contact with the man inside. With curtains drawn, the crew could not see inside but could hear a dog barking. They tried the front door, but it wouldn’t open. As the crew looked for another entrance, they heard a “click” and the front door opened. The crew went inside to find a man collapsed on the floor in the kitchen when a fire was beginning to take hold on the cooker. They contacted the ambulance service, put out the fire and allowed fresh air in. Firefighters then carried out first aid and stabilised the man until paramedics arrived. It wasn’t until later in the incident that they discovered that Chi Chi had managed to open the front door and let the crew inside.
Ian Bolton, Crew Manager for Home and Partnerships at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service added: “Having monitored diction in people’s homes means the fire service are only minutes away from providing lifesaving assistance. This is a real success story and highlights the importance of Careline and the fire service. Careline’s system, combined with the speed of our crews getting to the incident, saved Mr Green’s life. The cherry on the cake, however, was Chi Chi letting the crews in before they had to force entry to the property.”
1. How did the firefighters get into the kitchen?| A．They broke the door. | B．They unlocked the door, |
| C．The dog opened the door. | D．They found another entrance. |
| A．The man fell down and couldn’t move. | B．The system broke down accidentally. |
| C．The operator lost his senses. | D．The crew couldn’t see inside. |
| A．The swift reaction of Mr. Green. |
| B．The wide use of the smoke detector. |
| C．The dog unlocking the entrance to the door. |
| D．The joint work of Careline and the fire service. |
| A．Encouraging. | B．Competent. | C．Considerate. | D．Energetic. |
【推荐2】As a youngster, there was nothing I liked better than Sunday afternoons at my grandfather’s farm in western Pennsylvania. Surrounded by miles of winding stone walls, the house and field provided endless hours of fun for a city kid like me. I was used to tidy living rooms that seemed to whisper, “Not to be touched!”
I can still remember one afternoon when I was eight years old. Since my first visit to the farm, I had wanted more than anything to be allowed to climb the stone walls surrounding the houses. My parents would never approve. The walls were old; some stones were missing, others loose and falling. Still, my idea to climb across those walls grew so strong that finally, one spring afternoon, I had all my courage to enter the living room, where the adults had gathered after Sunday dinner.
“I, uh—I want to climb the stone walls,” I said. Everyone looked up. “Can I climb the stone walls?” Immediately voices of disagreement went up from the women in the room. “Heavens, no! You’ll hurt yourself!” I wasn’t too disappointed; the response was just as I’d expected. But before I could leave the room, I was stopped by my grandfather’s loud voice. “Now hold on just a minute,” I heard him say. “Let the boy climb the stone walls. He has to learn to do things for himself.”
“Go,” he said to me, “and come and see me when you get back.” For the next two and a half hours I climbed those old walls—and had the time of my life. Later I met with my grandfather to tell him about my adventures. I’ll never forget what he said. “Fred,” he said, smiling, “You made this day a special day just by being yourself. Always remember, there’s only one person in this whole world like you, and I like you exactly as you are.”
Many years have passed since then, and today I host the television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, seen by millions of children throughout America. There have been changes over the years, but one thing remains the same: my message to children at the end of almost every visit. “There’s only one person in this whole world like you.” the kids can count on hearing me say, “and people can like you exactly as you are.”
1. When the writer was small, he lived ________.| A．in the city | B．on the farm |
| C．with his grandparents | D．away from his parents |
| A．prove | B．suppose | C．allow | D．mind |
| A．adventurous | B．funny | C．smart | D．talkative |
| A．To do things for others. | B．To do whatever he liked. |
| C．To be proud of himself. | D．To be himself. |
【推荐3】My grandmother was from a town in Michigan Summer after summer, I enjoyed staying with my grandparents as a young child. I was from the city and loved the small town they lived in. People knew everyone, their kids, their pets, their ancestors. The bond(关系)with them continued to grow as I grew and they got older. Grandma was always using her hands for something exciting. She would make little sandwicbes and we’d have tea parties. She’d make beautiful quilts(被子) for each one. I remember the small thimble(顶针)she would use while doing her needle work.
A few years ago, when grandma left this earth, I bid farewell(告别 to a loving grandmother. How quickly our lives can change! We had just had tea together a couple of months earlier, on her 91st a birthday.
I missed her very much. On one particular birthday, when I was feeling a little low, something happened to make me feel she was sharing that special day with me. I was arranging some colorfully pillows that she had made, and suddenly I felt something inside one pillow(枕头). It was small and hard.I move it to the seam (接缝)that I carefully opened, and to my delight out came a tiny silver thimble! How happy I was to find something that had been a part of her! Instead of thinking that it had fallen off her finger, I pictured her sewing (缝)it in that little pillow that I just happened to place on my bedspread that day. I carefully laid the thimble alongside the others I’ve collected over the years, where I could continue to see the gift God chose to show to me. What a precious (宝贵的) memory of a very special lady who somehow, I knew, was laughing in delight at sewing her thimble inside my pillow! I made some tea, using my best china, as Grandma always did, and enjoyed my tea and Grandma’s thimble. What a wonderful birthday that was!
1. The author wrote this passage to .| A．show she missed living with her grandma |
| B．express a desire to lead a simple life |
| C．call on people to care for the old |
| D．recall her happy childhood |
| A．they often bought her some gifts |
| B．she was curious about people and things there |
| C．she could have tea parties and eat sandwiches |
| D．she could learn to sew quilts |
| A．Sad. | B．Proud. |
| C．Lucky. | D．Cheerful. |
| A．was the item the author has been trying to find |
| B．was the most treasured thimble of grandma |
| C．was very precious to the author |
| D．was a birthday gift grandma had given the author |
| A．A little pillow | B．Grandma’s silver thimble |
| C．My grandparents | D．My childhood |
